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Topic and/or reading |
In-class writing assignment |
Class writing prompt |
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1 |
No reading. Discussion of case from Muir, John. 1908. “The Hetch-Hetchy Valley.” Sierra Club Bulletin 6 (4): 211-222. |
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2 |
Philosophy and conceptual analysis. Watch “How to Journal (& Think) like a Philosopher” by Parker Settecase, from 6:54 to the end. We will make our first entries in our philosophical journals today. |
Philosophical Journal: Conceptual analysis |
Muir writes about the value of the Hetch-Hetchy Valley. Is there a part of the environment (such as a place, an ecosystem, a species or plant or animal) that you find valuable and would expend effort to save? What makes it valuable? Do you think that others should feel the same way you do about this part of the environment? Explain. |
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3 |
**Introduction to Analytical Outlines Read Singer, Peter. 1974. “All animals are equal.” Philosophic Exchange 5 (1), 103-116. |
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4 |
Singer, continued |
Philosophical Journal: Analytical Outline |
Outline the section of text from the beginning of first full paragraph on pg. 6 to the end of the first full paragraph on pg. 7. |
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5 |
Leopold, Aldo. 1989. “The Land Ethic.” In A Sand County almanac, and sketches here and there. Oxford University Press, USA. |
Philosophical Journal: Conceptual analysis |
Respond to Leopold’s idea that “a thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.” Is Leopold right? Try to think of an objection to Leopold’s view and either explain why you think the objection requires us to reject Leopold’s view or why it doesn’t. |
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6 |
Sagoff, Mark. 1984. “Animal liberation and environmental ethics: Bad marriage, quick divorce.” Osgoode Hall Law Journal 22 (2): 297-307. |
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7 |
Sagoff, continued; preparing for Unit Essay 1. |
Philosophical Journal: Conceptual analysis |
Is Sagoff right, that environmentalism of the kind embraced by Leopold is inherently opposed to animal liberation? Why or why not? |
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8 |
UNIT ESSAY 1 |
UNIT ESSAY |
Is environmentalism of the kind described by Leopold inherently speciesist? And if so, is this a bad thing? Defend your answer by appealing to readings and class discussions. |
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9 |
Guest Lecture. “Pigs, Poop, and Protest – Sewage and Garbage in the 19th and 20th Centuries.” Prof. Geoff Zylstra, History. |
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10 |
Introduction to Interdisciplinary Environmental Philosophy Metcalf, Thomas. 2018. “Philosophy and Its Contrast with Science.” 1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology. |
Philosophical Journal: Conceptual analysis |
Prof. Zylstra’s lecture described the emergence of an actual environmental problem in the 19th and 20th centuries. Which parts of his lecture were empirical–grounded in observation? What, if any, parts of his discussion relied on philosophical concepts–such as a priori knowledge, necessary truths, normative and evaluative truths, or abstract objects? Were any of the characters in his historical account motivated by such philosophical concerns? Describe the philosophical concerns and explain how you know they are philosophical (as opposed to scientific or empirical). |
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11 |
Shrader-Frechette, Kristin. 2007. “Human Rights and Duties to Alleviate Environmental Injustice: The Domestic Case.” Journal of Human Rights 6 (1): 107-130. |
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12 |
Schrader-Frechette, cont. |
Philosophical Journal: Conceptual analysis |
Is Schrader-Frechette right that we are all ethically and democratically responsible for the benefits we receive as a result of environmental injustice? Why or why not? |
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13 |
Foreman, Christopher H. 1996. “A Winning Hand? The uncertain future of environmental justice.” The Brookings Review 14 (2): 22-25. |
Philosophical Journal: Analytical Outline |
Outline section “Causal Problems,” pgs. 23-24 |
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14 |
Guest Lecture. “Environmental and economic benefits of greening urban spaces.” Prof. Sean MacDonald, Economics. |
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15 |
Gould, Kenneth A., and Tammy L. Lewis. 2018. “From Green Gentrification to Resilience Gentrification: An Example from Brooklyn.” City & Community 17 (1): 12-15. |
Philosophical Journal: Conceptual analysis |
Gould and Lewis detail how public efforts to make neighborhoods “green” often lead to gentrification, thus further exacerbating environmental inequalities between rich and poor. Is this undesirable, and if so, why and how do you think we fix it? If not, why not? |
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16 |
UNIT ESSAY 2 |
UNIT ESSAY |
Scientists have documented a variety of inequalities in exposure to environmental risks and environmentally-caused health outcomes between different races and classes. Environmental justice advocates claim that all groups should be subject to equal environmental risks and benefits. What does this mean, and do you think it’s correct? Why or why not? In your answer, be sure to discuss at least two examples of inequalities from class or readings. |
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17 |
Guest Lecture. “What are species and how can we delimit them?” Prof. Chris Blair, Biology. |
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18 |
Guest Lecture. “Preserving endangered species and rewilding.” Prof. Olufemi Sodeinde, Biology. |
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19 |
Sarkar, Sahotra, and Frank M. David. 2012. “Conservation biology: ethical foundations.” Nat. Educ. Knowledge 3 (10). |
Philosophical Journal: Conceptual analysis |
Sarkar and Frank describe four ways in which systematic conservation planning (SCP) assumes ethical or value judgments as presuppositions. According to them, conservation biology cannot proceed merely on the basis of science. In what ways did our guest lecturers rely on ethical or value judgments as presuppositions in their discussions of conservation biology and species delimitation? Do you agree with these presuppositions? In what way might they be controversial or debatable? |
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20 |
Sarkar, Sahotra. 2019. “What should “biodiversity” be?” In From assessing to conserving biodiversity: Conceptual and practical challenges, edited by Jorge Marques da Silva Elena Casetta, Davide Vecchi, 375-399. Switzerland: Springer Open. |
Philosophical Journal: Analytical Outline |
Outline the argument from the first paragraph in section 18.3 (“Normativism.”) |
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21 |
Sarkar, continued |
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22 |
UNIT ESSAY 3 |
UNIT ESSAY |
Scientists can provide a number of measurements and other observations relevant to assessing biodiversity and often propose plans for conserving biodiversity. Are these efforts purely scientific or do they always incorporate assumptions about ethics and/or values? Why or why not? Be sure to explain some of the proposals for purely scientific concepts of biodiversity and some of the philosophical objections to these proposals in your discussion. |
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23 |
Barry, Brian. 1997. “Sustainability and Intergenerational Justice.” Theoria: A Journal of Social and Political Theory (89): 43–64. |
Philosophical Journal: Analytical Outline |
Outline the argument in Section 4, “Sustainability and Intergenerational Justice.” |
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24 |
Barry, continued |
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25 |
Beckerman, Wilfred. 1994. “‘Sustainable Development’: Is it a Useful Concept?” Environmental Values 3 (3): 191-209. |
Philosophical Journal: Conceptual analysis |
Outline Section 2, “Changing Fashions in ‘Sustainable Development’” |
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26 |
Beckerman, continued |
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27 |
Sagoff, Mark. 1997. “Do We Consume Too Much?” Atlantic Monthly 279 (6): 80–96. |
Sagoff argues that it is wrong to think that nature sets limits to economic growth or that our present rate of consumption must ultimately reduce future prosperity. He discusses four empirical misconceptions shared by many people that lead them to think we will eventually “run out” of resources. If Sagoff’s economic analysis is correct, would that license maximal exploitation of the earth in pursuit of profit? Why or why not? |
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28 |
Guest Lecture. “Sustainable Innovation in Fashion & Beauty.” Prof. Denise Sutton, Business. |
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29 |
Sanderson, Eric W., Joseph Walston, and John G. Robinson. 2018. “From Bottleneck to Breakthrough: Urbanization and the Future of Biodiversity Conservation.” BioScience 68 (6): 412-426. |
Philosophical Journal: Conceptual analysis |
Sanderson et al argue that demographic trends–including urbanization and reliance on market economies–have tended to harm the environment and reduce biodiversity, but that there are reasons for thinking these same trends, will (in the long run) lead to a “breakthrough” ultimately enabling the long term security of biodiversity. If they are right about this, how would it change our thinking about our duties to act in a sustainable manner? |
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30 |
UNIT ESSAY 4 |
UNIT ESSAY |
In this unit we’ve examined a case for duties of sustainability and a case against strong duties of sustainability. We’ve also heard different (empirical) perspectives about whether present consumption rates will cause us to run out of resources in the future. Putting all of this together, do you think that considerations of sustainability are an important (or the most important) reason for protecting the environment? Why or why not? |